Extensible bed



w. E. LAWSON.

EXTENSIBLE BED.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, I920.

Patented June 13, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

4 57 519 Imam vian Pawnted June 13, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

o o o o W. E. LAWSON EXTENSIBLE BED.

APPLICATION FILED DUNE I8. 1920 O O 0 O O 0 0 O mlwm WILLIAM E. LAWSON,OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ENGLANDER SPRING- BED COMPANY, OF NEWYORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

EXTENSIBLE BED.

Application filed June 18, 1920.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, \JILLIAM E. Lawson, a citizen of the United States,a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Extensible Bed, of which thefollowingis a specification.

My invention relates to extensible beds comprising two bed sectionswhich may be either telescoped together to be used as a single bed orcouch, or may be extended to form a double bed.

One object of my invention is to provide a bed of this type in which theforward portion of the movable section shall be sup ported upon thefloor at points some distance back of the front face of the section.This is preferably accomplished by extending the front legs downward andrearward from their point of connection with the front section near itsforward edge, thus providing the desired construction withoutint-erfering with the nesting of the two sections. One advantage of thisconstruction is the reduction of wear upon the floor in front of themain section. In other words, the worn space in front of the bed whencollapsed is reduced in extent due to the reduced travel of the frontfeet over this space. Consequently when the bed is in use a single bed,the floor just in front of it is less marred and unsightly than wherethe legs are straight. Another advantage of this construction resides inthe ability of the forward edge of the movable section to extend overthe edge of a rug without the feet engaging it. In some instances thismay save rearranging the rugs when changing from single to doublepositions or the reverse. Another advantage is found in the appearanceof the bed when its sections are nested. lVhen the parts are thus nestedthe front feet of the front section are practically hidden from view andthe bed presents the appearance of a four-footed bed. The new legconstruction also allows a straight stem caster to be used to goodadvantage and thereby provides an economical structure which preventsirregular movements of the front section as it is moved into and out ofits nested position.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved guide engaginglegs or feet at Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 389,861.

the rear of the movable section which shall have a free and easy to andfro movement. This is preferably accomplished by providing legs ofspecial construction and furnishing them with wear plates or domes whichslide freely over the tracks or guide-ways provided on the main section.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for guiding thesections so that whether fully extended or fully collapsed they shalloccupy definite relative positions.

By providing guides for this purpose which come into play only when thesections approach their extreme positions, there is great freedom ofmovement and yet an accurate placing of the sections relative to eachother in their final open and closed positions. These guides prevent thesections from improperly engaging each other and thereby knocking off ormarriug the finish.

Other objects are to provide a bed of strong and durable constructionthroughout, one having simple and effectively arranged parts and onewhich can be economically manufactured. I

For a full understanding of the invention reference should be had to thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing and for the scope of the invention attention is directed to theaccompanying claims.

In said drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an extensible bedconstructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is an endelevation of the same with the sections drawn out, portions of thestructure being broken away for clearness and to bring the whole withinthe limits of the drawing; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of a portion ofthe same structure showing the sections in nested position; Fig. 4 is adetail view illustrating one of the rear feet of the movable section;Fig. 5 is a plan view. showing the ends of the main section in sectionand having the parts broken away so as to reduce the size of the figure;Fig. 6 is a view of one of the forward feet of the front section inassociation with the front panel and other port-ions of the section;Fig. 7 is a view of the same front foot structure showing the frontpanel in section, the parts being viewed in a direction op osite to thatin which they are viewed in *igs. 2 and 8;

and Fig. 8 is a plan view of the same foot structure showing parts insection taken on a plane indicated by the line 8 8 of Fig. 6.

Throughout these views like characters refer to like parts.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 and 11 designate the ends of themain or rear section of the bed. Each of these ends comprises verticalposts 12 and 13 which are connected together by an intervening panel 14of suitable construction; a top bar 15 also unites the tops of the posts12 and 14: and between this top bar 15 and the panel 14 is an additionalpanel 16 having an ornamental center 17 of caning. Obviously theconstruction of these ends may be varied according to the judgment anddesire of the designer. The posts 12 and 13 terminate in feet 18 and 19which are provided with casters or silent domes, as may be desired. Eachof these ends has associated with it an end frame of angle iron. Thisend frame, designated generally as 20, is provided with a horizontalmember 21 and vertical posts 22. In practice the member 21 and posts 22are made of a single angle iron which is notched at the points where thecorners are to come and bent so as to bring the adjacent faces of thenotches together, as clearly illustrated. The member 21 and the posts 22are strapped together by short straps 23 which are riveted t0 thevertical webs of the member 21 and the posts 22, in each instance. Theseend frames 20 are secured to the adjacent ends 10 and 11 in any suitableway as by means of lag screws 24- which pass through one of the webs ofeach post 22 into engagement with the ends, which are in the case illustrated composed of wood. Obviously with ends of a different constructiondifferent means might be employed for attaching the end frames to theends. Likewise with ends of a different material different means wouldhave to be employed for this purpose. The end frames 20 are connected bybars 25. These bars are connected to the posts 22 through the agency ofangle blocks 26. Both the blocks 26 and the bars 25 are preferablycomposed of angle iron and the parts riveted together, the block 26 ineach instance being riveted to one of the webs of the post 22 and thebar 25 being riveted to the other web of the block 26. Thus the endframes 20, and necessarily the ends 10 and 11, are spaced apart andrigidly held by the bars 25 which are connected in the way pointed out.The spring structure of the main section is provided by a fabric locatedb tween the horizontal members 21 and of the end frames 20. Thehorizontal webs of the members 21 are perforated at suitable intervalsfor the reception of the hooked ends of the short coiled springs 27which are connected at their opposite ends to steel stri 3s 28. Thisspring fabric may be variously constructed according to the judgment ofthe designer. Besides these parts the main section includes twotransverse guide-ways 29 which are also preferably composed of angleiron. The horizontal web of each of these tracks or guide-ways 29 is inthe preferred construction riveted to the horizontal webs of the bars25, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and These guide-ways co-operate with therear feet upon the front section of the bed as will be hereafter morefully pointed out.

The front or movable section of the bed consists in like manner of twoend frames 30 which comprise in each instance a horizontal men'iber 31and vertical posts 32. These end frames like the end frames 20 arecomposed of a strip of angle iron which is made by notching at thepoints where the corners come and then bending so to bring the faces ofthe notches together in the manner illustrated. As before, the adjacentwebs of the member 31 and the posts 32 are strapped together by strapswhich are riveted to the adjacent flanges in the manner explainedheretofore in connection with the des 'ription of the end frames 20. Inthis s ction the end frames are connected together by bars 341 and 35the bar 3 1 being at the front and the bar 35 at the rear. The bar 34:forms a support for the front panel 36, which in the present embodimentis a wooden panel shaped so as to agree with the design of the ends 10and 11. When collapsed so as to be used as a single bed the panel 36fits accurately between the posts 12 of the ends 10 and 11, a slightclearance being providedbetween the ends of the panel and the adjacentfaces of the posts. WVhen the parts are in the collapsed or nestedposition, the end panels a; and the front panel 36 constitute acurtaining means for hiding the front feet of the front section.Obviously other curtaining means might be employed if desired. Likewisethe panels may be composed of other materials. The rear bar is riveteddirectly to the rear posts 32. The rivets which hold the bar 35' and theposts 32 together also serve to secure the rear feet in place. 'Thesefeet are constructed in each instance of a tube which is flattened atits top to provide a flat faced extension 38 which will fit up againstthe vertical web of the side bar 35. It is through this extension 38 andthe vertical. webs of the side bar 8:3 and the parallel web of the post32 that the retaining rivet passes. The lower tubular portion of thefoot 3? has a wooden plug 39 driven into it so as to form a tight fit.This plug is suitably dressed at the bottom and is there provided with awear plate or dome .40 which has its prongs driven into the end of theplug.

The forward feet 11 of the movable or front section are in each instancecomposed of a tube which is flattened at its upper end to provide a webor extension 12 which is riveted directly to the end web of the adj acent post 32. At a point just below the flattened portion of the tube itis perforated for the passage of a rivet through the same web of thepost 32 and through an angle brace 43 which has one arm positioned so asto engage one side of the foot 41 and its other arm positioned so as toengage the horizontal web of the bar 34 of the front section. Thetubular portion of the foot 31 is curved downward and rearward so thatits rearmost end extends in a horizontal direction. At a point near itsrear end this portion of the foot is provided with a vertical openingthrough its tubular walls. A caster 4:4 is located directly between thisportion of the foot and its stem extends upward through the verticalopening in the foot. By this construction the front section of the bedis supported at a point some distance in the rear of the front panel 36.This construction is also a very economical one and, as beforeindicated, reduces the wear upon the floor in front of the main sectionto a minimum because of its reduced range of travel. In this way whenthe parts are collapsed to be used as a single bed the floor in front ofthe bed is not marred to the same extent as would be the case if thefeet 41 were directly beneath the posts 32. The end frames 30 of themovable section are provided with a spring structure like that of themain or rear section. The horizontal members 31 are perforated for thereception of the hooked ends of the short coiled springs 15 which areconnected at their opposite ends to the flat steel strips 16 of the bedfabric. As before indicated this bed fabric may be varied in design ascircumstances may require or according to the judgment of the designer.

It will be seen that with the construction herein described the feet 41will pass beneath the side bar 25 of the main section when the parts arenested as illustrated in Fig. 3. It will be noted that all the rearwardextension of the feet 41 takes place below the level of the side bar 25.It therefore follows that when the parts are nested the posts 32directly engage the side bars and in this way the front section issquared up with reference to the rear section. This brings the panel 36into proper alignment with the posts 12 of the ends 10 and 11.

In order to prevent the ends of the panel 36 from engaging the posts 12and knocking off or marring the finish upon them the end frames 30 areprovided with spring tongues 17 and 1-8 located respectively at thefront and rear ends of the horizontal members 31. These tongues areriveted at one end to the member 31 and are free at their opposite endsto exert a yielding pressure upon the posts 22 when they are broughtinto engagement with them. Because of the arrangement of these springtongues and the posts 22, the movable section is guided into a definiteposition with reference to the main section whenever it is moved intoits fully nested position or its fully extended position. By thisconstruction the forward spring tongues 47 so guide the forward sectionas it is moved into its fully nested position that the ends of the"panel 36 pass by the posts 12 without engaging them and thus preventmarring the finish upon the posts. When the movable section is in itsfully extended position the guiding tongues 18 engage the posts 22 andin like manner center the movable section with reference to the mainsection. When the sections are thus fully extended the bar 35 of themovable section engages the blocks 26 upon the posts 22 and thus limitsthe forward movement. This engagement results in squaring the frontsection with reference to the rear section. The spring tongues 47 and 48also serve to yieldingly hold the parts in their fully extended or fullynested posi tions. Their yielding engagement with the posts 22 increasesthe friction between the parts and thus prevents displacement of the bedsections except when a reasonable force is applied to the front sectioneither to draw it out or force it in. In order to complete the design ofthe bed illustrated the rear section should preferably be provided atthe rear with a panel similar to the panel 36.

It will be understood that in carrying out my invention certain changesmay be made in the particular embodiment herein presented withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. I therefore wishto cover by the terms of the appended claims all such changes asproperly come within the scope of the invention. lVh-at I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An extensible bed having front and 7 rear bed sections, the frontsection com arising angle iron end frames and side ars, each frameincluding vertical posts and an intervening horizontal member, anglebraces secured to the ends of the front side bar of the front sectionand having in each instance a vertical arm lying near and spaced from aweb of the adjacent vertical post, front feet for the front section,each foot having an upper fiat vertical portion bearing directly againstand secured to one of the webs of the adjacent post and each foot havinga downwardly and rearwardly curved tubular portion positioned at onepoint between one of the webs of said post and the vertical arm of theadjacent angle brace, and securing means passing through said tubularportion, arm and We 2. An extensible bed comprising telescoping frontand rear bed sections, each section comprising angle iron end frames andside bars, each frame including vertical posts and an interveninghorizontal member, spring tongues secured to the opposite ends of eachhorizontal member of the end frames of the front section and operativeto engage the vertical. posts of the end frames of the rear section toguide the sections into proper nested and extended positions and toyieldingly hold them in said positions while leaving them free for easymovement in intermediate positions, four feet for the rear sectionadapted to rest on the floor, metal guideways on the rear sectionextending in the direction of travel of the front section, front feetfor the front section adapted to travel on the floor, rear feet for thefront section adapted to travel on said guideways, and wear plates ordomes on the latter feet to allow easy travel of said feet upon saidguideways in all directions to reduce resistance to the irregularmovements of the front section when not under the guiding action of saidspring tongues.

3. An extensible bed comprising telescoping front and rear bed sections,each section comprising end frames and side bars, each frame includingvertical members and an intervening horizontal mem'ber, spring tonguessecured to the opposite ends of e ch horizontal member of the end framesof the front section and operative to engage the vertical members of theend frames of the rear section to guide the sections into proper nestedand extended position and to yieldingly hold them in said positionswhile leaving them free for easy movement in intermediate positions theposts of the end frame of the rear section engaging the rear side bar ofthe front section to sq are the latter with reference to the rearsection when the sections are fully extended.

4:. An extensible bed. comprising telescoping front and rear bedsections freely movable toward each other into a fully nested (2*position and apart into a fully extended position, the rear sectionhaving vertical members near its forward edge, horizontally yieldingspring tongues secured near the forward edge of the front section andpositioned so as to engage said vertical members only as the sectionsclosely approach and rest in their fully nested position, otherhorizontally yielding spring tongues secured near the rear edge of thefront section and positioned so as to engage said vertical mem hers onlyas the sections closely approach and rest in their fully extendedposition, said; spring tongues serving to accurately center andfrictionally hold the sections in said positions, and means on the frontsection cooperating with said vertical members to square the sectionsrelative to each other when fully extended.

5. An extensible bed comprising telescoping front and rear bed sectionsfreely movable toward each other into a fully nested position and apartinto a fully extended position, the rear section having a side bar andvertical members near its forward edge, horizontally yielding springtongues securednear the forward edge of the front section and positionedso as to engage said vertical members only as the sections closelyapproach and rest in their fully nested position, other horizontallyyielding spring tongues secured near the rear edge of the front sectionand positioned so as to engage said vertical members as the sectionsclosely approach and rest in their fully extended posit-ion said springtongues serving to accurately center and frictionally hold the sectionsin said positions, and means on the front section cooperatingwith saidside bar to square the sections relative to each other in their fullynested position.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 14th day ofJune, A. D.

WILLIAM E. LAl/VSON.

